Mukudzei Chingwere
Senior Reporter
FOREIGN-OWNED businesses operating in 17 economic sectors reserved for Zimbabweans face suspension or revocation of their licences following nationwide inspections that exposed widespread non-compliance.
The enforcement measures come after the Government inspected over 3 000 companies across all 10 provinces.
Cabinet expressed concern that most foreign operators failed to regularise their operations despite extensive awareness and formal notices.
Addressing yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Acting Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Paul Mavima announced that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce would now enforce the regulations.
“The Ministry of Industry and Commerce will suspend or revoke the operating licences of all non-compliant businesses operating in the reserved sectors as per regulations,” Prof Mavima stated.
The sectors were restricted under Statutory Instrument 215 of 2025, gazetted in December last year, to protect local commerce.
Under the framework, 13 sectors — including borehole drilling, customs clearing, tobacco grading, estate agencies, and artisanal mining — are exclusively reserved for local citizens.
Foreign firms can only participate in four sectors — retail/wholesale, haulage/logistics, grain milling, and shipping/forwarding — through specific exemptions or regularisation plans.
Cabinet received an implementation update from Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, revealing that 693 formal compliance applications have been received.
269 foreign operators applied for regularisation by submitting plans to transfer 75 percent equity to Zimbabwean citizens.
144 entities sought formal confirmation of their local status.
63 entities successfully qualified for a statutory exemption because they met prescribed investment thresholds or operated as recognised international brands.
Despite these applications, the majority of foreign-owned entities have failed to comply, continuing to maintain an unregularised presence in restricted sectors such as retail and brick moulding.
The Government’s transition from awareness campaigns to strict regulatory enforcement aims to compel immediate alignment with the law.
